Character positioning means in wire printers



April 14, 1959 CHARACTER POSITIONING MEANS IN WIRE PRINTERS Filed Nov. 25. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS HAROLD J. KISTNER OTTO F. MONEAGLE ATTORNEY April 14, 1959 H. J. KlsTNER ET Al. 2,881,697

CHRACT-ER POSITIONING MEANS IN WIRE PRINTERS Filed NOV. 25. 1955 O 0mm United States `CHARACTER POSITIONING lVIEANS IN WIRE PRINTERS Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,736

12 Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention relates to printers having an element positionable according to the character to be printed and more particularly to mechanisms for positioning the character determining element.

A printer of this type is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,730,040, issued January l0, 1956, to Reynold B. Johnson. The wire printer disclosed therein has a code rod as a character pattern determining element which is positioned and then moved against the control ends of print wires prior to the printing impact undergone by the other ends of the diierentially displaced wires to select the particular character to be printed. Such a code rod may be indexed axially to and from any of twelve index points and rotated angularly about its axis to and from any of four index points to provide forty-eight character determining positions. The positioning of such a code rod is under the control of six magnets, four of which, when energized singly or in combination, determine which of the twelve axial points other than the home point and two of which, when energized singly or in combination, determine which of the four angular points other than the home point that it will be disposed in. These magnets, upon energization, are eiective through an adding linkage actuated by a pairs of cyclically operated bails to position the code rod once in each cycle.

A general object of this invention is to improve the speeds of printers and in particular those of wire printers. A more specific object of the invention is to provide a setup mechanism for a wire printer code rod which requires less time.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a setup mechanism which is also accurate and reliable in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide: such a setup mechanism which is also easy of construction and inexpensive of manufacture.

According to the invention, a simple setup mechanism is provided for moving the code rod directly from position to position without necessitating return to a home position, thus enabling the shortening of machine cycles as the code will be positioned in less time than was here- `tofore attainable. The novel setup mechanism comprises two independent sets of wedges, each set of which has a one-way driving connection with the code rod. These wedge sets are alternately operated so that while preparation is being made to set one up, the other is being used to hold the code rod in a particular character setting. They are operated in alternation by a pair of alternately operable bails through a single set of magnets corresponding to the six magnets in the above identified application. Like those magnets, they may be energized once in each cycle singly or in combination according to the character to be printed. Unlike those magnets, and due to the alternate operation of the bails, they are eifective upon the wedges of a set only once in every other cycle. l

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in aient the following descriptionand claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view, partially in section, disclosing a mechanism constructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken along the section line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing in perspective a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical wiring employed in the invention.

Fig. 5 is a chart depicting the timing of various cornponent parts of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. l discloses a code rod 10 which may be indexed axially to any of twelve points and angularly to any of four points to provide a total of forty-eight ditferent positions respectively determinative of forty-eight different characters. The code rod is mounted on the upper end of a flexible stem 12 which is driven at its lower end to index the code rod while enabling the latter to be moved bodily against a plurality of print wires 14 to impart selective vaxial displacement thereto to determine particular character patterns.

y Axial or translational movement is imparted to the stem and thus to the code rod through a collar 16 affixed thereto near its lower end. This collar is embraced by the branches 18a and 18b (split to surround the stem 12) on the end of a lever 18 pivoted about a stud 20 fixed to a suitable support 22. The lower end of the stem has axed to it an axially extending gear 24 which meshes with a pair of reversely reciprocal racks 26 and 28. The ends of these racks are offset as at 26a and 28a and are pivotally connected at their oiset ends to the upper and lower ends of a compound lever 30 mounted on a stud 32 ixed to the plate 22. It can be seen that by rocking the lever 18 axial displacement will be im parted to the code rod and that by rocking the lever 30 to reciprocate the racks 26 and 28, angular movement will be imparted to the code rod.

Motion is imparted to the translation efecting lever 18 and to the rotation effecting lever 30 through a crossover linkage. This cross-over linkage includes a link 34 pivotally connected at one end to an arm 36 projecting upward from the translation effecting lever 18 and at its other end tol the upper end of a lever 38 mounted forward of a guide bar 40 fulcrumed at an intermediate point 38a upon a guide bar-carried movable block 39 and pivotally connected at its lower end to a cros'sover link 42. The other end of this cross-over link is pivotally connected to the lower end of a lever 44 disposed behind the bar 40 and fulcrumed at an intermediate point upon a block 45 slidably carried upon the rear side of the guide bar 40. The upper end of this lever is pivotally supported upon a stud 46 xed to the lsupport 22.

The rotation effecting lever 30 has a pin and slot connection with the lower end of a compound lever 48 pivoted at an intermediate point on a stud 50 carried by the plate 22 and is pivotally connected at its other or upper end to the right-hand end of a link 52 disposed behind the link 34, asv seen in Fig. 1. The other end of this link is, like the forward link 34, pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 54 disposed behind the bar 40 and fulcrumed at an intermediate point upon a block 55 slidably carried upon the rear side of the guide bar 40. The lever 54 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a second cross-over link 56. This link crosses over the link 42 so that it may be pivotally connected at its other end to the lower end of a lever 58 disposed in front 'ftlie pgiii'de bar 40'ande1g'agng at an intermediate point a 'blo'ck 60"slidablym`ounted "on 'the"f`orwa'r'd side of the guide bar. The lever 58 is pivotally mounted at its upper end on the stud 46palso mounting the lever 44. lt 'can now be seen that outward movement of the leftha'nd fro'ntvblock '60 will swingthe vlever 58 clockwise "about 'the 'stud 46 to pull on the link 56 Aand pivot the "lever"54 about its fulcrum point with the block 55 to shift the link 52 to the right, as seen in Fig. l, thereby imparting clockwise rotation to the lever 48 and counterclockwise v'rotation to the compound lever 30. This will -move the front rack 26 to the left and the rear rack 28 to the right to impart a clockwise rotation to the code rod as seen from above. Similar rotation `ofthe code rod results if the block 55 on the rear side of the guide bar 4t) lis moved outwardly as it will swing the lever 54 about its pivotal connection with the cross-over link 56 to shift the link 52 to the right. Hence, outward movement of either the lfront block 60 or the rear block 55 will achieveclockwise rotationy of the code rod.

Outward movement of the rear block 45 will swing 'fthe lever 44 about its pivotal mounting on the stud 46 to exert a pull on the cross-over link 42 rotating the lever 3 8 clockwise about its fulcrum point with the front block k39 to shift the front link 34 to the right to rotate the lever 18 clockwise and move the code rod 10 downward. Outward movement of the front block 39 will achieve similar results by swinging the lever 38 about its point of connection with the cross-over link 42 to shift the link 34 to the right. It follows that, if either the rear block 45 or the front block 39 is allowed to move inwardly, the link v34 will be shifted to the left due to the forces imposed by the spring 62 upon the upper end of the code 'rod and acting through the collar 16 to raise the lever 18 and shift it clockwise, thus forcing the link 34 to the left. In this case, the positioning of the code rod will be determined by the amount of movement that the spring is allowed toimpart to one or the other of the movable blocks 39and 45. The positioning of these movable blocks is controlled by sets of wedges generally indicated by the letter W.

The sets of wedges are mounted upon the front and rear sides of the guide bar 40, respectively. Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, each set of wedges may be seen to be comprised of six wedges W separated by small rollers 64. Other such rollers 64 are also provided to separate the end wedges from the corresponding slidable blocks such as 60 and 39. To enable the code rod to be shifted to any of twelve axial displaced points, four wedges are employed having the respective values of +4, +2, +1, and 5, as is shown in Fig. l. Thus, the +4 wedge will impart four increments, the +2 wedge two increments, the -ll wedgeone increment, and the -5l wedge live negativeincrements of displacement` to the code rod when raised -so that thehigh points of their cam surfaces are Opposite` the rollers. The rollers are held against vertical displacement by, the flanges 40a and 4Gb at the top and bottom' edges of the ,guide bar 40 and by an intermediate raised track 40C. In underfgoing raised movement, the wedges not only displace themselves and the exteriorly disposed rollers and wedges with respect to the more interiorly disposed rollers but also impart additional displacement tothe exteriorly disposedrollers and wedges due to the cam action on the exterior side of the wedge. It will be evident that the displacement obtained 'by raising variouscombinations of vthese Wedges may besuch as to raise the code rod to any of iive'plusf points from a home point as when'the A`v`-45 wedge is raised singly or `in combination with any one or more ofthe three plus wedges and to lower'the code ro'dto any of six points from the home point when 'any one or more of the plus wedges are raised.

l. Two wedges are employed in each unit to effect-angular displacemertofthe code rod. These wedges have the respective values of +2 and +1 and are similar in action 'to 'the V'vv'edg'e's 'for effecting"axial V'displacement 'of the code rod. Suice it to point out here that the +1 wedge rotates the code rod one point in the clockwise direction, as viewed from above, from the home position and that the +2 wedge -imparts two points of clockwise rotation while a combination of the two wedges imparts three points of 'suchro'tatiom The wedge units of each set, that is, the wedges for 'imparting axial displacement and the wedges for imparting angular displacementto the code rod, vare prevented from interfering with one another by firmly securing the rollers separating the -5 wedge in the axial displacement unit and the -i-l wedge in the angulardisplacement unit tothe guide member, as by welding. Thus, these two rollers merely serve as bearing surfaces for the adjacentwedges.

On the back side of the guide bar 40, the disposition of the wedges is reversed from right to left. Thus, the +4 wedge of the axial displacement unit lies behind the +2 wedge of the angular displacement'unit on the fr'ont side, whereas the +2 wedge ofthe angular displacement unit on the rear side lies behind the +4 wedge of the laxial displacement unit on the yfront side. This is necessary because the levers at one'end ofth'e guide bar are interconnected with the levers ldisposed on the opposite sides at the other end ofthe b'ar by'the'cross-over links 42 and 56, as has been pointed out.V K It has also been pointed out that the wedges are eective upon upward displacement 4`'to impart lateral motion not only to themselves but also to the Vslidable blocks associated with the corresponding wedge unit. The wedges themselves are slidably mounted in the offset portions 66a (Figs. 2 and 3) of corresponding operating arms 66 so as to be carried upwardly when the arms are displaced upwardly and yet to be movable laterally when undergoing cam action during 4such vertical` displacement or as a result of a coacting wedge'having been raised.

Upward displacement ofthe respective operating arms 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) Yis effective through fpawls 68 pivotally axed to their upper ends. These pawls cooperate with lugs 70 projecting laterally'from the surfaces of vertically reciprocable bails 72A and 72B. If `a pawl is released while the associated bailisin the downward position, the vpawl rotates, under the action of a spring 74 atlxed at its lower endto an ear 66b of the corresponding operating arm, to where a laterally extending part 68a of the pawl rests upon a corresponding laterally projecting ear 76 carried by the associated bail. In this position the pawl is disposed over the corresponding lug 70, and when thel bail movesupwardly, the lug carriesithe pawl and hence the corresponding roperating arm upwardly. This imparts an upwarddisplacement to thecorresponding/wedge whichtlien Y' atesin the ina'triner'lfieretofore explained'to index .the'c rod. e i

, The restoration of a `paiijvl'from ihr-front Aofa lug 70 i V l 'A M V,ardmovement of Hthe bail. 'A latch 78, pivoutally'rnpunfedfat an 'intererriediatepoint.on a'stu'dA v810 afxed'tothe plate 22, is connected atits lower'end toa tension, spring 82 which urges the upperV end of the latchinto the downward path of the laterally extending part 68a o'f'a corresponding pawl. Thus, when a raised operating arm 66 4is Alowered due to the engagement of the corresponding Alug 70 on the lowering bail with a shoulder 66e on it, the .part 68a of the corresponding pawl strikes this latch and rotates the pawl out of the path of the corresponding lug 70. This prevents subsequent upward'm'ovement of the operating arm when the bailr again moves upward unless the latch 78 is again -rotated from beneath the latetallyfextending part of the pawl to dispose the pawl 'againinthe path of 'the corresponding lug. By selectivelycontrolling the latches 78, the code rod 10 can beiposition'e'd-in different character settings.

Each latch is controlled by a corresponding magnet 4v'84 suitably supported on the frame 22. Each magnet is provided with an amature 86 pivoted on a stud 88l Vand having a depending arm which is engaged by the corresponding latch. Upon energization of a magnet, the corresponding armature is rocked to rock the latch about its pivot point and release the corresponding pawl 68 for movement into the path of the corresponding lug 70. In this way discrete electrical impulses will be translated through the mechanical operation of the bails 72A and v72B into a particular positioning of the code rod. It may be noted that a spring 82 biasing the corresponding latch 78 to the pawl intercepting position also operates upon the armature to move it away from the magnet and that the ultimate position of an armature and its latch is determined by a stop 90 mounted on the associated magnet 84.

It may also be noted at this time that the energization of a magnet has no effect upon the pawl for the bail that isin a raised position. This is because the withdrawal of the latch from beneath the pawl is not followed by a rotation of the pawl under the influence of its spring 74 due to the fact that the pawl engages the side of the corresponding lug 70 which is now in a raised position relative to it. Hence, when the magnet is deenergized the laterally extending arm 68a of the pawl is still above its corresponding latch and allows the latch to move.

-in each cycle and completely restoring once in every other cycle. The magnets are pulsed just before the raise time for each operating bail to dispose the corresponding pawls 68 in the path of the lugs 70 affixed to the'lowered bail, specifically bail 72A in Fig. 1. Thus, the magnets will be pulsed the next time while the information represented by the previous set of pulses is being represented by a mechanical displacement of the code rod 10, and it may be further observed from the timing chart that the displacement of the code rod will be fixed for the greater portion of a cycle due to the fact that the high portions of the cam surfaces of the wedges W remain opposite the corresponding rollers 64 even though the wedges themselves continue to move upward and then downward for some time. This allows sufficient time for the setup or positioned code rod to be moved, as by the cams 92 shown schematically in Fig. l, against the control ends of the print wires 14 prior to the making of printing irnpact with their other or print ends.

It is evident from'a consideration of Fig. 1 that the magnets 84 bearing the further designation of a, b, c, and d control the operation of the axial displacement wedge unit in the front set of wedges while the magnets e and f control the operation of the angular displacement wedge unit therein and that, for the rear set of wedges, the magnets4 f, e, d, and c control the wedges in the axial displacement wedge unit while the magnets b and a control wedges in the angular displacement wedge unit. This entails an electrical switching arrangement to change the magnets which will be energized by the combinations of discrete electrical impulses when the different operating bails are about to be raised.

Fig. 4 shows such an electrical switching arrangement. There the magnets a through f are shown as being connected through normally closed contacts C1 through C6 to corresponding wires 84 leading from a data source DS.r This is the condition which obtains for every other cycle and, in particular, when the data is to be translated by the rear bail 72B into a mechanical displacement of the code rod. In the other or alternate cycles, the connections between the wires 94 leading from the data source DS and the magnets 84 are reversed. This may beeected by closing a set of cam contacts 96 to energize a switching relay 98 controllingthe contacts C1 through C6 for the respective setup magnets. Thus, when the switching relay is energized, the commonstraps 'of the transfer contacts C1 through C6 are shifted to close the normally open contacts to operate the f, e, d, c, b, and a magnets when formerly the a, b, c, d, e, and f magnets, respectively, were energized. It can now be seen that there has been provided a unique arrangement wherein one set of magnets may be energized in successive cycles to move the code rod directly from one character determining position to another and without necessarily passing through the home position located at an intermediate point, though such movement may occur.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated `by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism; a part having a normal position and disposable in any of a number of positions; a plurality of wedges respectively movable between normal and second positions, means serially, drivingly connecting said wedges to said part and operable by respective ones of said wedges when they are moved from normal to second positions to dispose said part in positions having corresponding increments of cumulative displacement from the normal position; a cyclically operable bail reciprocable between first and second positions; and selectively actuable means for the respective wedges operable when actuated to connect the corresponding wedge to the bail for movement from the normal to the second position as the bail is moved from the first to the second position.

2. In a mechanism; a part disposable in any of a number of positions; a first set of wedges in which the wedges are serially, drivingly connected to said part and respectively operable when moved from a first to a second positlon to impart cumulatively corresponding increments of displacement to said part to dispose it in a corresponding position; a second set of wedges in which the wedges are serially, drivingly connected to said part and respectively operable when moved from a first to a second position to impart cumulatively corresponding increments of displacement to said part to dispose it in a` correspondmg position; cyclically operated bails for the sets of wedges reciprocable between first and second positions and in out-of-phase relationship; and a selectively actuable means for corresponding wedges in each set of wedges respectively operable when actuated to drivenly connect the corresponding wedges to the reciprocable bail then at the first position for movement from their normal to their second positions.

3. In a mechanism; a part movable to a second point in one direction and to a second point in another direction; two sets of wedges, each set including a first wedge drivingly connected with said part and operable when moved from a normal to a second position to move said part to the second point in the one direction and a second wedge drivingly connected with said part and operable when moved from a normal to a second position to move said part to the second point in the other direction, cyclically operated bails for the respective sets of wedges reciprocable between first and second positions and in out-of-phase relation, and selectively actuable means for corresponding wedges in each set of Vwedges operable when actuated to connect drivenly the wedge corresponding to the bail that is at that time at the first position thereto for movement from the normal to the -Second position as the bail ananas? moves from the `rst to the second position.v

4. In a mechanism, a part movable to aV second point in one direction and to a second point in another direction from a home position, two sets of wedges, each set having one-way driving connections with said part and including a first wedge operable when moved from a normal toa second position to move said part to the second pointin the one direction and a second wedge operable when moved from a normal to a second position to move said part to the second point in the other direction, cyclically operated bails for the respective sets of Wedges and reciprocable between first and second positions and in 180"y phase relation, and selectively actuable vmeans for corresponding wedges in each set of wedges 4operable when actuated. to connect the corresponding wedge to the corresponding bail that is at the first position at that time for movement from the normal to the second position as the bail moves from the first to the second position.

5. In a mechanism for translating a code rod axially to any vof a number of different points and rotating it about its axis to any of a number of different points, two sets of wedges each comprised of two units of wedges, `each unit of wedges including an end block and a plu- Arality of wedges serially connected and operable when moved from a normal to a second position to impart different cumulative increments of lateral displacement to the corresponding block, said sets of wedges being in side by side relationship, levers for each of the blocks at one end of said sets of wedges pivotally mounted at one end on a fixed stud and fulcrumed at intermediate points upon the corresponding blocks, levers for each of theblocks at the other end of said sets of wedges and fulcrumed at intermediate points thereon, cross-over links interconnecting the free ends of the levers at one Vend of said sets of wedges with the free ends of the levers of the opposite set at the other end of said sets of wedges, linkage for connecting the other free end of one of said levers at the other end of said sets of wedges with a code rod to impart translational displacement thereto, other linkage connecting the other free end of the other of said levers at the other end of said sets of Wedges to impart rotational displacement to a code rod, cyclically voperated bails for the respective sets of wedges reciprocable between first and second positions and in `180 phase relation, and selectively actuable means for corresponding wedges in each of said sets of wedges operative when actuated to connect drivenly the Wedge corresponding to the bail at that time at the first positionto ,the bail for movement from the normal to the second position as the bail moves from the first to the second position. i v

K 6.*In a mechanism for imparting a fixed increment of displacement to a part, a wedge movable between a ``normal and a second position, means operable when the wedge is moved from a normal to a second position to impart a fixed increment of displacement to such a part, an arm movable between normal and second positions vand carrying said wedge, said wedge being operative when the arm is moved to its second position to move the .wedgerfrom the normal to the second position and relative to said arm, a driving element movable through afixed range of movement, and means operative to conland a second position, a pawl mounted on said member and biased lfor disposition in the path of said bail, a latch biased to a position in which it holds the pawl `out of engagement with the bail when the member is in the first position, means operable to move said latch away from said pawl to permit the latter-to move into the path of said bail when the latter is in the first posi- 8 y tionfrneans for automatically returning said member to the first" position after it has been moved to the second position, said latch being effective when released by said means'prior to the movement of the member from the second position to the first position to intercept the pa'wl in its biased position and restore the same out of the path of the bail.

8. In a`mechanism, a member movable from a first to a second position and having a shoulder, a bail reciprocable between a first and a second position and having a lug disposed for cooperation with the shoulder on the member, a pawl mounted on said member and biased to aposition in which it lies in the path of said lug and drivenly connects the member tothe bail for movement from the first to the second position as the bail moves from the first to the second position, a latch biased to a position in which it holds the pawl out of the path 'of said lug, means operable to move said latch away from said pawl to permit the latter to move into the path of said lug when the bail is in the first position, said lug being effective to restore the member from the second position to the first position as the bail moves from the second position to its first position, said latch being effective when released by said means prior to the movement of the member from the second position to the first position to intercept the pawl in its biased position and restore the same out of the path of the bail, said lug being so disposed as also to prevent biased movement of the pawl when the latch is operated at a time other than when the bail is at the first position.

9. In a mechanism, a member movable from a first to a second position and having a shoulder, a bail reciprocable between a first vand a second position and having a first lng disposed for cooperation with the shoulder on the member and a second lug, a pawl mounted on said member and biased to a position in which it is stopped by said second lug and lies in the path of said first lug to drivenly connect the member to the bail for movement from the first to the second position as the bail moves from the first to the second position, a latch biased to a position in which it holds the pawl out of its biased position, means operableto move said latch away from said pawl to permit the latter to move to its biased position, said first lug being effective to restore the member from the second position to the first position as the bail moves from the second position to its first position, said latch being effective when released by said means prior to the movement of the member from the second position to the first position to intercept the pawl in its biased position and restore it, saidlug being so disposed as also tol prevent biased movement of the pawl when the latch is operated at a time other than when the bail is at the first position.

l0. In a mechanism, two. members each movable from a .normal to. a second position Vand having aV shoulder, cyclically operated bails for the corresponding members reciprocable between first and second positions and in phase relation and each bearing a lug adapted to engage the shoulder of the corresponding member and `move the member from the second to the first position if the member was moved to the second position as lthe bail moves from the second to the first position, a pawl mounted on each of said members and biased to a position in the path of the lugon the corresponding bail to drivenly connect the member to the bail for movement from its rst to its second position as the bail moves from its first to its second position, a latch operative upon both of said pawls to hold them out of engagement with the corresponding lugs, means operable to release said latch at those times that the different bails are attheir first position, said lugs being so formed as to prevent the biased movement of the corresponding pawl when that bail is at other thanits first position. y

l1. In a mechanism, a part disposable in a pluralityiof positions, a pair of wedges each disposable in two positions, means constituting a one way driving connection from a rst one of said Wedges to said part and operable when said rst wedge is moved from a first one of its said positions to a second one of its said positions to move said part from a first one of said part positions to a second one of said part positions, means constituting a one Way driving connection from the second one of said wedges to said part and operable when said second wedge is moved from a first one of its said positions to a second one of its said positions to move said part from said first part position to said second part position, a bail for each wedge, each bail reciprocable between two positions and cyclically operated so that one is at a rst one of said bail positions when the other is at the second one of said bail positions, selectively actuable means for connecting each bail to the associated wedge, and means for selectively actuating said connecting means when said bail and said wedge are in their rst said positions.

12. The device described in claim 11 wherein the driving connection means associated with said iirst wedge causes said part to move in a first direction, and the driving connection means associated with said second Wedge canse said part to move in a second direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,466,714 Harnden Sept. 4, 1923 1,820,437 Cavagnaro Aug. 25, 1931 2,524,127 Johnson Oct. 3, 1951 2,623,457 Gabbert Dec. 30, 1952 2,730,040 Johnson Ian. 10, 1956 

